French Riviera Carlton Hotel Wedding

Melli… my goodness, where do I even begin?

To set the stage, my husband and I originally envisioned a lively wedding surrounded by friends, but after his father’s passing just months before our anticipated date, everything changed. A grand celebration no longer felt right. Instead, we chose an intimate family wedding in a place we knew our parents would never have visited on their own—the French Riviera.

We had no idea how the day would unfold, but somehow, everything fell into place as if it were always meant to be. Melli was an integral part of that magic. She didn’t just document our wedding; she became part of our family. She was an artist, a friend, and a steady presence we could lean on throughout the day.

One year later, on our first wedding anniversary, we look through our wedding photos while listening to our song, instantly transported back to that beautiful day. I can still feel the brisk morning air, the plush carpet under my feet, the conflicted emotions on my husband’s face – grief for his father intertwined with the anticipation of the most important day of his life.

I see the grandeur of the marble halls, my father’s trembling hand, and the glisten in his eyes as we waited to walk down the aisle. I remember our mothers, radiant in their traditional hanbok dresses as they beamed with pride.

And I will never forget how we ended the night – just the two of us, walking hand in hand, letting out a breath we didn’t realize we had been holding, finally taking in the joy and relief of the day. Melli captured it all with perfection; the fleeting moments, the raw emotions, the love that filled every corner of that day.

For that, we will be forever grateful.